06/01/2020
Happy Monday!
Last week the Ontario government announced that Massage Therapy could GRADUALLY start opening. This is exciting news, and I'm sure has everyone checking regularly to see when they can book in. I know I have received messages asking of available appointments already. I am so looking forward to when I can be available to help you with your massage needs however, now is still not the time. At present Haven Massage Therapy is still closed.
The guidelines issued came out rapidly and with that there is still much to be done to ensure a safe space for us to conduct massage therapy. Massage itself has not changed but many aspects around your time in the clinic have. New guidelines allow us to open before other close contact businesses but only if they are all met.
Personal Protective Equipment is on order, this is the biggest obstacle in opening the doors. It is imperative that appropriate PPE is available to all healthcare and frontline workers, there is currently a large demand and short supply. Once PPE has arrived at the clinic I will be able to open. Masks MUST be worn by myself the entire time you are present in the clinic, at this time only surgical/medical masks are acceptable by the CMTO. While waiting on PPE to arrive I will be changing the clinic space itself to adhere to the new guidelines so there are no further delays to our opening.
Returning to practice gradually means prioritizing those patients with essential care needs, e.g. those whose health and function would decline greatly if treatment was not provided. This does not mean only treat patients with essential care needs, but rather I should prioritize seeing these patients before any other patients. I must only provide massage therapy treatment if I've assessed that the expected benefit of the treatment outweighs the risk to the patient and the RMT.
Gradual reopening also means less available appointments for the foreseeable future. More time needs to be put between patients as the entire clinic needs to be disinfected after each use to ensure everyone is safe.
There are numerous other things that I need to set in play before opening so I will be spending the next while taking courses, re-arranging the clinic space, removing unnecessary furniture and setting the clinic up to be open upon PPE arrival. I am also finalizing a new online booking system to facilitate the change to a paperless clinic, including records, so please look for that in the next few weeks.
I know there will be questions so please email havenmassagetherapy@cogeco.net , call (705) 874-3358 or text (705) 930-1132 and I will do my best to answer them.
See below for how you can expect your massage to look upon reopening
What to expect:
📣📌 NEW ~ COVID screening prior to booking appointment.
📣📌 NEW ~ Arrive alone no more than 5 minutes before treatment and call the clinic to gain access.
📣📌 NEW ~ COVID screening prior to entering clinic to begin massage and a waiver release.
📣📌 NEW ~ Hand washing upon entrance to clinic.
📌 SAME ~ Massage as usual! Massage itself has not changed. We will still go over what brings you in for treatment that day and how we will proceed. The table will still be set with freshly laundered linens and pillows for your use. An area will be ready for you to discard any clothing you wish to remove and will be properly disinfected between each patient just like before.
📣📌 NEW ~ A mask will be provided for you to use for any part of the massage where you are not face down.
📣📌 NEW ~ When your massage is complete you will be asked to wash your hands again.
📣📌 NEW ~ Payment for massage will be as before through the POS and direct billing.
📣📌 NEW ~ Receipts will now be issued electronically, there will be no paper copies.
I can't wait to see you all again and miss you all dearly. It has been such a joy to be part of your healthcare over these last 11 years and I look forward to being a part of it again soon.
Stay safe and stay healthy, we will be open soon!
Gillian Green, RMT
